New Lawn Saturday, August 2nd, 2014   1st Team Friendly Attendance: 1,086         Forest Green Rovers 0-3 Crystal Palace
2014 /15

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Premier League class shone through at The New Lawn as Forest Green were comfortably defeated by a Crystal Palace side possessing a collection of star names, writes Richard Joyce. England international Fraizer Campbell''s first half hat-trick blew Rovers away in the opening half hour as Palace, who registered an eleventh place finish in the top flight last term, cruised to victory. Despite sending one half of their squad to Brentford, the Eagles choose that travelled to Gloucestershire featured a number of experienced heads. And they showed plenty of quality to get past Ady Pennock''s Forest Green side who had chances themselves, including an effort which hit the post in the first half, from the boot of Elliott Frear. Sam Russell was kept busy in the Rovers goal and he was a member of the starting eleven alongside Jon Parkin and James Norwood who began as the front two partnership. Rovers'' did well to apply some early pressure to their visitors early on and Frear forced Wales international goalkeeper Lewis Price into a reactive stop with his cross-come-shot. But Campbell''s class was clear to see when after only eight minutes, and on their first attack, he swept Palace in front after a ball had been delivered into the penalty area from the right. The former Manchester United forward, who appeared in a pre-season friendly at The New Lawn last season while a Cardiff City player, then doubled his side''s advantage shortly after. He latched onto a well-executed through ball and stylishly slipped the ball past the stranded Russell. Forest Green almost hit back through Frear straight away. The tricky winger managed to get a boot on a ball that the Palace defence failed to clear near goal and his low attempt struck the post. But that was the nearest Rovers'' would come in the afternoon as Barry Bannan''s powerful thump was gloved away firmly by Russell. Campbell bagged his hat-trick and the games final goal on 29 minutes. A corner towards the far post targeted the attacker and he headed in powerfully. Pennock''s charges prevented Palace from finding the net in the second half and had chances of their own early on. Dale Bennett headed just wide from a Frear free kick while the latter set Norwood inside the box only for the front man to blast over. Jerome Thomas proved resourceful all afternoon for the visitors and his powerful strike after driving down the left was pushed over by Russell. Clovis Kamdjo headed narrowly over from a Frear delivery while Bannan''s effort on the FGR goal, after a quick Palace break, was blocked at the last moment. Kamdjo had another opportunity as the clock ticked towards full time but after breaking into a good shooting position the Cameroonian smashed his effort horribly off target. There was still time for two close shaves to come on Palace''s behalf towards the finish as they looked to add a fourth. Russell denied Bannan again while Campbell''s mazy run and quick feet almost ended in the forward finding the net but his final effort rolled just past the post.